Cedric stepped in front of Frank, his gaze cold. "Respect her choices."
"What do you know? I'm worried about her living alone! It's natural!" Frank's face darkened. "You're the suspicious one, being so kind to her!"
Cedric's eyes remained unreadable. "She'd rather leave with me than return to your family. Think about that." He slid into Alfred's car, Noelle settling in the back. She glanced at Frank. "I can handle it."
"Noelle, I—" Frank coughed violently, blood blooming on his hands.
Noelle's lips tightened. "You shouldn't have drunk."
"Noelle, I—" He collapsed. Noelle leaped out. "Frank! Are you alright?"
James rushed over, frantic. "Ms. Liddell, Mr. Liddell left the hospital when he learned you were going to the branch office. His condition is serious."
Noelle bristled. "He should go back!" She hadn't asked him to leave.
"His temper…Ms. Liddell, you might want to talk to him at the hospital."
James helped Frank into the car, then approached Noelle, his expression pained. "Ms. Liddell, let's go."
"I'm not a doctor," she said, unmoving.
Alfred spoke up, noticing the blood. "Why don't we all go?"
Noelle nodded. "Sorry for the trouble."
"No trouble at all. Let's go." Alfred saw her hesitation; Frank was her brother.
In the car, Noelle was silent. Cedric turned to her. "Don't feel guilty. This isn't your fault."
"I know. I'll check on him, then leave."
Alfred glanced in the rearview mirror. "Nelly, don't forgive them too easily. What they did can't be ignored."
"I won't," Noelle said firmly.
At the hospital, the doctor sighed seeing Noelle. "He didn't receive treatment, and he's drinking again. This could lead to stomach cancer."
Noelle studied the scans. In her past life, Frank's stomach problems hadn't been this severe.
Outside, she found Cedric waiting. "Where's Alfred?"
"Bathroom. What did the doctor say?"
"He needs treatment, or it'll get worse. Stomach cancer."
Cedric saw her distress. He hesitated. "What are you planning to do?"
"I don't know." She looked up at him. "You have a girlfriend already?"